Liquid pumping apparatus



July 15, 1958 H. F. TAPP LIQUID PUMPING APPARATUS Filed March 2s, 195ea0 7 Zo/w 4 2 2\ Z246 United AStates Patent O f 2,843,048 LIQUID PUMPINGAPPARATUS Harry F. Tapp, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to Gilbert & BarkerManufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application March 2,3, 1956, Serial No. 573,388

2 Claims. (Cl. 10S-87) This invention relates to improvements in pumpingapparatus for liquids and, more particularly, to an improved pumpingapparatus Which may be mounted in the usual vertical outlet pipe of astorage tank for liquids.

The invention inds one advantageous use in connection with gasolinedispensing apparatus. With the use of larger storage tanks and/or longsuction lines, the usual pump in such apparatus has to create a highdegree of suction and this often results in undesirable vapor-ization ofthe volatile liquid. The apparatus of this invention may serve as abooster pump, being submerged in the liquid in the storage tank andforcing the liquid under pressureto the pump of the gasoline dispenser.Obvionsly, the invention is not limited to the one use described and maybe used as a single pumping means independently of any other pumpingmeans.

The object of the invention is to provide a pumping apparatus which maybe mounted within the usual vertical outlet pipe of a liquid storagetank by thrusting it downwardly through such pipe, after the upper endof the latter has been uncovered.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational View of the complete pumping apparatusshown as mounted in the outlet pipe of liquid storage tank; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View drawn to a largerscale and showing in detail the pump, its driving shaft and the guidingmeans therefor.

Referring to these drawings, a portion of a storage tank for liquid,such as gasoline for example, is shown at 1. The liquid outlet pipe forthis tank is shown at 2, mounted vertically in the tank and xed theretoin any suitable way, as for example, by the stuing box illustrated. Thisstuing box has a body 3, fixed to the tank and encompassing pipe 2 andreceiving packing 4 which is compressed by means of a gland 5 and forcedagainst the outer peripheral wall of pipe 2. This pipe may be part ofthe suction line of the pump of a gasoline dispensing apparatus, locatedabove ground remotely from the tank and connected to pipe 2 by otherpiping, shown in part at 6, and usually containing a suitable non-returnvalve (not shown). In such case, the pump of this invention willfunction as a booster pump, helping the pump in the dispensingapparatus. However, it will be obvious that the pump of this inventionmay also function alone to supply the dispensing apparatus.

The pumping apparatus of this invention is adapted to be mounted in thepipe 2 by thrusting it into the pipe from the upper end thereof. Suchapparatus comprises a cylindrical housing 7 adapted to slidably fit pipe2 and containing one or more pump chambers 8 (two as herein shown) andinlet and outlet passages 9 and 10 respectively provided in the lowerand upper ends of the housing 7. In the example shown, the pump is ofthe centrifugal type, having two rotors or impellers 11, suitably xedone above the other on a driving shaft 12, which is rotatably mounted inthe upper end wall of housing 7 but held against axial movementrelatively thereto. This shaft extends axially upward through pipe 2 andby means of it, the housing 7 may be thrust piston-like through the pipefrom the upper to the lower end thereof. Suitable sealing rings 13, suchfor example as O-rings made of neoprene or the like, are mounted ingrooves formed in the external peripheral wall of the housing 7 and areadapted to engage the internal peripheral wall of pipe 2 and preventpassage of liquid between said walls.

Referring now to the details of the exemplary pump shown, a disk-likepartition 14 is arranged beneath each 4impeller 11 and rotatablyreceives the downturned annular portion that contains the inlet eye. Theupper partition seats against a shoulder in the housing 7. The lowerpartition is spaced from the upper partition by a sleeve 15. The twopartitions and the intervening sleeve are clamped in place by an annularnut 16, threaded into the lower end of housing 7 and providing the abovedescribed inlet 9. This nut may form the upper head of a suitablestrainer 17, the lower head 18 of which is connected by clamping bolts19 to the upper head. Liquid enters through the strainer 17 into inlet9, thence into the inlet eye of the lower impeller, thence being thrownoutwardly into the lower chamber 8, from which itis guided by diffuservanes 20, depending from the upper partition 14, into the inlet eye ofthe upper impeller, which throws the liquid outwardly into chamber 8 toleave by way of outlet 10 into the pipe 2 at a location above thehousing 7.

For the purpose of supporting the driving shaft 12 from the internalperipheral wall of pipe 2, one or more guide rings 21 (two as shown) aremounted at axiallyspaced locations on the shaft. Each such ringrotatably receives shaft 12 but is held against substantial movementaxially of the shaft by suitable means, such as the snap rings 22 whichare mounted in grooves in the shaft. Each ring 21 has passages, such as23, for liquid to ow through the guide ring. The outer periphery of eachguide ring is grooved to receive an O-ring 24, made of neoprene or likematerial, and frictionally engaging the internal peripheral wall of pipe2. These rings 24 hold the guide rings 21 from turning with shaft 12 andenable the rings to yield slightly when necessary to enable the shaft tobe centered in pipe 2 despite slight irregularities in its peripheralwall.

The upper end of pipe 2 is closed by a hollow two-part housing exceptfor a lateral outlet 25 to which the described pipe 6 is connected. Thelower member 26 of .this housing is threaded on the upper end of pipe 2and is anged to receive the ange of the upper housing member 27, theanges of the two members being suitably secured as by screws 28 and aninterposed gasket 29. The upper member 27 has upward extensions 31 tothe upper ends of which are connected a ring 32 which supports anelectric motor 33 suitably fixed thereto. The shaft 34 of this motor isconnected by a coupling sleeve 35 to a shaft 36. Both shafts 34 and 36are connected to sleeve 35 by a key 37, clamped in pla-ce by set screws38. The lower end of sleeve 35 has threaded into it a member 39, theupper end face of which supports a collar 40 xed on shaft 36. Themembers 39 and 40 form a thrust bearing for the pump driving shaft. Thelatter extends downwardly into the housing 26, 27 and is connected toshaft 12 by a coupling 41. Shaft 36 emerges from housing 26, 27 througha casing 42, suitably xed to the top of housing 27 and containing a sealring 43, with which is engaged a seal ring 44 carried by shaft 36 andpressed upwardly by a spring 45. The interior of casing 42 is maintainedat the same pressure as the in- Patented July 15, 1958 terior of housing26, 27 by means of a conduit 46 which interconnects said interiors.

In use, the suction line of the dispensing apparatus is broken at theupper end of pipe 2. Whatever fitting that connects the pipes 2 and 6 isremoved and replaced by the lower housing section 26, which is screwedonto the upper end of pipe 2. Then the pipe 6 is connected to the sideoutlet 25. The upper housing section 27 has assembled thereon the motor33 and the several shafts 34, 36 and 12 are connected, as shown, withthe lower end of shaft 12 carrying the piston-like body 7, which housesthe pump. Then, this body 7 is thrust into the upper end of the pipe 2and forced downwardly therein, followed by the guide rings 21, until thelower flanged end of section 27 rests upon the upper flanged end ofsection 26. These two flanged ends are then fastened together and theassembly is then complete.

It will be clear that the invention affords complete pumping apparatuswhich may readily be mounted in the usual vertical outlet pipe of aliquid storage tank. The invention provides a pump which may be used asa booster pump to supplement the usual pump of a gasoline dispensingapparatus where the lift is high and/or the suction line is long. Whenthus used, the high degree of suction that would otherwise be necessaryis avoided and the consequent vaporization of the volatile liquid. Itwill be recognized, however, that the pumping apparatus of thisinvention may well be used independently of any other pumping means tosupply a liquid dispensing apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. A pump, adapted for mounting in the outlet pipe of a liquid storagetank, and comprising, a pump housing having a cylindrical outer wall toslidably tit like a piston in said pipe and having a pump chamber, andan inlet to and an outlet from said chamber respectively provided in thelower and upper ends of the housing, at least one sealing ring mountedin the outer cylindrical wall of said housing for engaging the internalperipheral wall of said pipe and preventing passage of liquid betweensaid walls from said inlet to said outlet, a pump rotor in said chamber,a drive shaft for the rotor rotatably mounted in said housing and heldagainst axial movement relatively thereto, said shaft adapted to extendaxially through said pipe and constituting means by which the housingmay be moved piston-like from the upper to the lower end of said pipe, ahollow housing adapted to be secured to the upper end of said pipe toconnect with a delivery pipe, said shaft extending upwardly through thelast-named housing, and a motor mounted exteriorly of the last-namedhousing and connected to drive said shaft.

2. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, with at least one guide ringin which said shaft is engaged for rotating and noneaxial movement, saidguide ring having in its external peripheral wall a ring of flexiblematerial adapted to engage the internal peripheral wall of said pipe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,301,597 Paulsmeier Apr. 22, 1919 1,415,586 Layne et al May 9, 19221,844,620 Wintroath Feb. 9, 1932

